Recreating the perfect tide for wetland restoration

"Engineers from UNSW Sydney have designed and built a system that biomimics tides to help restore vital coastal wetlands. Wetland areas are under severe risk from climate change and subsequent rises in sea levels, with some projections indicating that up to 35 per cent of current wetlands across the globe may be lost in the next 80 years. But a team led by Associate Professor Will Glamore, from the Water Research Laboratory within UNSW Engineering, has shown that such areas can not only be saved but also restored to former glory by their innovative ‘Tidal Replicate Method’ that is then connected to a SmartGate. The Tidal Replicate Method is an algorithm that mimics tides that have been calculated to create the best ecological conditions for the specific wetland area . . . In the Scientific Reports paper, the UNSW team highlighted impressive results over a three-year period using the Tidal Replicate Method and SmartGate system installed at a location on Kooragang Island, in the Hunter River estuary just north of Newcastle in NSW. They recorded total saltmarsh vegetation cover in the area rising from 0.2% in November 2017 to 45% by December 2020 after installation and implementation of their system."